Envy Is A Sin

http://thelovecommandment.com/envy-is-a-sin/Envy Is A SinThe Love Commandment

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Envy affects your heart and mind, and it makes you vulnerable to the enemy. Envy arises when you compare what you have to what your neighbor has.

Let’s say your neighbor has a high-paying job, a beautiful wife and nice house. You have a menial job, you’re divorced and you’re renting an apartment. As long as you’re envying that other man, you’re going to be miserable. You can’t enjoy the things that you do have. The Bible says to be content with the things that you have, and thank God for them.

Envy is a very effective roadblock on the road to your success. But it’s just another sin. You can get rid of it. When you repent of it, God will forgive you, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

According to the Bible, anger and envy can kill you. For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. (Job 5:2)

These are the words of a man who envied the ungodly. They had everything they desired, and they did everything that they wanted to do. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. … Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. (Psalm 73:3-9, 12-14)

The story ends when the man realizes the horrors that are awaiting those people in Hell. He was thankful that God had saved him from it. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctury of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalm 73:16-19)

Envy destroys your health. This verse says that it affects the bone marrow. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. (Proverbs 14:30)

Replace envy with the fear of the Lord. Then, God will give you the things that you desire. Let not thine heart envy sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:17-18)

Don’t underestimate envy’s power to destroy. The chief priests and elders killed Jesus because they envied him. He could do miracles that they couldn’t do. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. … But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. (Matthew 27:17-18, 20)

The Bible says to be content with the things that you have. You have the Lord. Not everyone does. He is more valuable than anything on Earth. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

If you want your circumstances to change, apply God’s wisdom to your life, and be led by the Spirit of God. He says to get rid of envy and strife. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:14-16)